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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950138-04-000806.txt : 20041129
<SEC-HEADER>0000950138-04-000806.hdr.sgml : 20041129
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041129215708
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950138-04-000806
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041124
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041129
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041129

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TEKELEC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000790705
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				952746131
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26580 W AGOURA RD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8188805656

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26580 W AGOURA RD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATINCO S A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214764

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		041173123

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5, BOULEVARD DE LA FOIRE
		STREET 2:		L-1528 LUXEMBOURG, GRAND-DUCHY OF
		CITY:			LUXEMBOURG
		STATE:			N4
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011 352 45 123 1

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5, BOULEVARD DE LA FOIRE
		STREET 2:		L-1528 LUXEMBOURG, GRAND DUCHY OF
		CITY:			LUXEMBOURG
		STATE:			N4
		ZIP:			00000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Stirling Trustees Limited, as Trustee of The Natinec Trust under The Natinec Settlement Trust Deed dated January 9, 2003
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001310115

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		041173122

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VICTORIA CHAMBERS
		STREET 2:		1-3 ESPLANADE
		CITY:			ST. HELIER, JERSEY CHANNEL ISL
		STATE:			XX
		ZIP:			JE4 0SZ
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011-44-1534-877-511

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P. O. BOX 801
		STREET 2:		VICTORIA CHAMBERS, 1-3 ESPLANADE
		CITY:			ST. HELIER, JERSEY CHANNEL ISL
		STATE:			XX
		ZIP:			JE4 0SZ
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790705</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEKELEC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TKLC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214764</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NATINCO S A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5, BOULEVARD DE LA FOIRE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>L-1528 LUXEMBOURG</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GRAND-DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001310115</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Stirling Trustees Limited, as Trustee of The Natinec Trust under The Natinec Settlement Trust Deed dated January 9, 2003</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 801</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>VICTORIA CHAMBERS, 1-3 ESPLANADE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST HELLIER, JERSEY CHANNEL ISL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>JE4 0SZ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>122507</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9965335</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Contract to Sell (Prepaid Variable Forward Contract)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-24</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>144000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-11-24</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-11-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>144000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On November 24, 2004, Natinco, S.A. (&quot;Natinco&quot;) settled its obligation to deliver shares of Tekelec Common Stock under a prepaid forward sale contract entered into with an unaffiliated third party buyer (the &quot;Buyer&quot;) on November 14, 2002 pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by Natinco.

Pursuant to the contract, on or about November 25, 2002, Natinco received a cash payment in the total amount of $1,158,473.66.  In exchange for the cash payment, Natinco pledged and agreed to deliver to the Buyer on November 24, 2004 up to 144,000 shares of Tekelec Common Stock.  The number of shares to be delivered by Natinco to the Buyer at settlement depended upon the price of Tekelec Common Stock on November 24, 2004 (the &quot;Settlement Price&quot;) as follows:  (i) if the Settlement Price were less than or equal to $9.3546 per share, then Natinco would be required to deliver all 144,000 shares to the Buyer; (ii) if the Settlement Price were greater than $9.3546 but less than $13.0964 per share, then Natinco would be required to deliver a number of shares equal to the product of 144,000 times $9.3546, divided by the Settlement Price; and (iii) if the Settlement Price were greater than $13.0964, then Natinco would be required to deliver a number of shares equal to 144,000 multiplied by a fraction, the n
umerator of which would be the sum of $9.3546 plus the difference between the Settlement Price and $13.0964, and the denominator of which would be the Settlement Price.  In lieu of the delivery of shares, Natinco also had the option to settle the contract by the delivery of cash.

The Settlement Price upon settlement of the contact on November 24, 2004 was $25.07.  Accordingly, Natinco transferred 122,507 shares and retained and was not required to deliver 21,493 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities were or are owned (i) directly by Natinco and (ii) indirectly by Stirling Trustees Limited, as trustee of the Natinec Trust under The Natinec Settlement Trust Deed dated January 9, 2003 (the &quot;Natinec Trust&quot;).  The Natinec Trust owns substantially all of the equity interest in Natinco.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Pierre Lentz, Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John Seil, Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ronald W. Buckly, Attorney-in-Fact for Paul W. Elliott, a Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----